NATO signs contract for Cyber Defence

The NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) celebrated with a ceremony on 8 March 2012 the award of a contract for upgrading the NATO cyber defence capabilities. The award to private industrial companies will enable the already operating NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) to achieve full operational capability by the end of 2012.

In addition to protecting the Alliance’s own networks, the capabilities to be acquired through the new contract will strengthen NATO’s ability to support member states in dealing with cyber attacks by using improved information-sharing and rapid reaction teams, whenever requested.

“The project is a direct result of NATO nations’ commitment to improve capabilities to detect, defend and recover in case of a cyber attack against systems of critical importance to the Alliance. This award is an important step towards delivering these capabilities by the end of 2012,” said Assistant Secretary General Gabor Iklody, head of the lead body for NATO cyber defence at NATO Headquarters.

At approximately 58 million Euro in total, the award represents NATO’s largest investment to date in cyber defence.